US2382124A - Atomizer - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1945. A. H. BAHNsoN, JR v2,382,124

ATOMIZER n Patented Aug.l 14, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ATOMIZER Agnew TH. Bahnson, Jr., Winston-Salem, N. C. Application June 10, 1942, Serial No.` 446,506

8 Claims.

This invention relates to atomizers and is particularly directed to atomizers of the type employed in humidifying systems. Y

A particular problem in the use of spray nozzles for the atomizing of liquids in a stream of gaseous fluid such as air is to insure that the flow of liquid is -always stopped when the gas flow ceases or substantially decreases. If, for example, in an atomizer used in a humidifying system the water flow continues after the gas pressure has ceased or has fallen to a low value, or if the Water flow can start in the absence of the full gas pressure, much damage may result from the discharge of ineffectively atomized water into the air ducts or into the conditioned spaces. Complicated mechanisms have been proposed for the purpose of preventing such occurrences, particularly for use when air, or other gaseous fluid, is available at a pressure higher than the pressure of the liquid.

A principal object of the present invention is the provision of a simple compact atomizer which positively shuts off the flow of liquid whenever the pressure of the gaseous fluid supplied to the atomizer falls below a predetermined level.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an atomizer in which the flow of liquid is positively controlled by the gaseous fluid pressure supplied to the atomizer.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an atomizer in which the liquid flow is controlled by gaseous fluid under a pressure lower than the liquid pressure- A still further object of the invention is the provision of an atomizer in which the liquid flow is controlled by the pressure of the gaseous fluid supplied thereto without the use of springs or other resilient members.

The accomplishment of these and other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the principles of the invention With particular reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a central transverse section through an 1atomizer embodying the principles of the invenion;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary central section showing a modified liquid pressure diaphragm in place in the atomizer, and

liquid pressure diafor connecting the air or steam supply pipe to the atomizer. The forward portion of body IIJ is bored to receive water nozzle cap 20, to be described later, and to provide a mixing chamber 33 adjacent the Water nozzle, and terminates in a spray opening I0. The inlet II is preferably provided with' a filter screen I2. I

The dependent skirt portion of body I0 is internally threaded to receive gland nut I3, the projecting portion of which is preferably hexagonal in external shape for convenience in assembly and disassembly. Internally the projecting portion of j,

gland nut I3 is threaded to receive the threaded portion of back cap I4, which has a dependent projection externally threaded to engage a suitable `coupling member (not shown) for connecting a'water pipe to the atomizer. The intermediate portion of cap I4 is preferably hexagonal in external shape.

The internally projecting portion of back cap I4 is threaded to receive the fixed valve stem I5 and inwardly of the threaded portion is bored to provide a Water passage I6. The lower end of valve stem I5 is bored to provide a passage I5' from the end thereof into water passage I6.

Concentrically positioned about valve stem I5 is a movable valve assembly comprising water nozzle cap 20, preferably of hexagonal external sh'ape, slidably mounted in the bore of body IIJ tto provide an air channel 3U between the nozzle cap 20 and body I Il and bored to receive the upper end of the valve stem, a gland nut ZI threaded into the skirt of cap 20 and a gland nut 22 threaded into the skirt of gland nut 2I. The internal bores of gland nuts 2I and 22 are largeI than the external diameter of valve stem I5 to provide a water passage from passage I6 to the annular valve seat 23 formed at the inner end of gland nut 2|.

The valve stem I5 is Vprovided with' an adjustable cap member 24 threaded thereon and carrying a sealing disc 25, adapted to engage the valve seat to close the water passage. An annular ilexible diaphragm 26, advantageously made of neoprene, is engaged adjacent its outer edge between opposed shoulders on body I0 and gland nut I3 and adjacent its inner edge between 'the end of the skirt of water nozzle cap 20 and gland nut 2 I.

A similar annular diaphragm 21, typically of smaller eiective surface area than diaphragm 26, is engaged adjacent its outer edge between gland nut I3 and back cap I4, and adjacent its inner edge between gland nuts 2|` and 22. The movable valve assembly is hollow and constitutes a part of the liquid passage that is supported by the diaphragms 26, 21 for displacement, in accordance with the forces developed by the pressures o f the liquid and the gaseous medium within their respective passages. l

A lter screen 28 is preferably positioned in the water passage around the stem I5. A slot 22' is provided in the skirt portion of gland nut 22 to provide communication between water .passage I6 and chamber 29 adjacent diaphragm 21.

It will be seen that the pressure of water or other liquid chamber .29 on Adiaphragm 21 will urge the valve assembly upward along valve stem I to close the valve while the pressure of air` or other gaseous iluid in chamber 30 on diaV- V phragm 26 will urge the valve assembly downward along valve stem I5 to open thevalve. Bysuitably selecting the relative effective surface areas of the diaphragms 26, 21, the valve may be caused to open upon the supply to the atomizer of Aany predetermined gaseous pressure and to close whenever the gaseous pressure falls below a predetermined point. By providing a diaphragm lof -greater eiTective area than the diaphragm 21, the valve can be caused to open .and the :atomizer to operate at v gaseous pressures substantially lower than the pressure -of the liquid supplied tothe atomizer. For example, an atomizer vconstructed as shown in Fig. 1 .ofthe drawing has operated very effectively with a water pressure of 25 pounds and an air pressure lof 20 pounds,` To provide for easy adjustment of the atom-tzerforvsatisfactory operation at other air and water pressures, the effective area-of diaphragm 21 may .be readily altered by substituting diaphragm assemblies having smaller or larger eiective areas.

As .shown in Figs. 3 and 4, thediaphrag-m assembly 21" comprises a flexible annular idisc 3I preferably of neoprene and a metal rimv 32; In the form shown by way of illustration, 'the rim 32f-extends farther inward on the lower, pressureside. of the diaphragm than in the diaphragm 21 shown in Fig. l, thereby reducing the effective area of the diaphragm.

In operation, the liquid entering the .atomizer through passage I5 passes through passage I6, va1ve'23 and nozzle 2B whereby it is sprayed-into` the stream of gaseous fluid, such las air `or .steam entering the atomizer through .inlet I I and passing through chamber 'andpassage 3-0, 4and the resultant :atomized liquid is emitted at opening I0. Upon reduction of .the gas pressure, either lintentionally or accidentally; below ya predetermined amount, the eiective vdifferential force acting on diaphragm .'21 will close valve 23 and shut off the supply of liquid.

It will zbe seen that the invention comprises not onlythe specic elements :and embodiments illustrated herein, but broadly yembraces any atomizcr Y for liquids comprising a liquid nozzle, means providing a passage for liquid from an inlet to .the nozzle, .a mixing chamber .adjacent the nozzle, means providing a passage for gaseous fluid from an Yinlet to the mixing chamber, .al valve in the liquid passage, a member responsive to pressure in the liquid passage between'the inlet :and the mounted in said chambena relatively .stationary valve element adjustable with respect to said xed `member, a hollow movable member telescoped mentary valve elements depends upon the pressures exerted upon said flexible diaphragms by the fluids within the respective passages.

il2. An atomizer of the type including a shell having outlet means and separate inlets for liquid and a gaseous medium, means within the shell providing liquid and gaseous medium passages from the respective inlets to said outlet means, and a valve for the liquid passage including a valve member and a cooperating movable valve member urged .towards valve-'open position by pressure in said gaseous mediumpassage, characterized by the fact that Asaid movable Valve member 4is hollow and constitutes apart .of said 'liquid passage, and said `passage-providing means .sa-id atomizer shell comprises a plurality of sections, the liquid and the gaseous medium inlets .being in different shell sections, and the outer edges of said flexible members are clampedbetween 'd-iiTerent pairs of sections vof said shell.

5.- In an atomizer, a shell having a liquid inlet and `a gaseous medium inlet, a mixing chamber within said shell having an loutlet for the discharge ofthe atomized liquid, a liquid .nozzle slidable in said shell and having .an orifice opening .into said mixing chamber, means including rela .tively movable valve members vproviding :a liquid passage from said liquid inlet to. said nozzle, at least Aone of said valve members :being .movable with said liquid nozzle, means including a flexible :diaphragm forming a gaseous medium chamber open to said gaseous @medium inlet .and Ito said mixing chamber, and means including a iiexiblediaphragm yforming a liquid chamber between said liquid .inlet -and said liquid passage;

said Idiaphragms being connected to .said slidable liquid nozzle and the valve member movable therewith, and the pressures in .said vgaseous medium Vand liquid chambers tending to displace said liquid .nozzle Iand vassociated valve vmember in opposite directions.

6. lin -an atomizen'the invention as recited in claimf, wherein the diaphragm of said gaseous medium chamber iis of 'larger .effectivefarea than the dipahragm of said liquid chamber, whereby said liquid valve :may be opened by a gaseous mediu-mY oi lowerpressure than .that of the liquid. f '-7. In an atomizer, -a shell including anintermediate section between and .secured to a lrear cap and a mja-in body, 'said .main .body .having -an axial bore therethrough, said shell having a spray outlet at its forward end and an -'interior mixing space at the forward end :of the bore from which spray is Idischarged through 'said outlet, va liquid inlet 'through' the rear Icap, .sa gaseous medium inlet through the wall of the main body and opening into the bore thereof, flexible diaphragms extending across said shell at opposite ends of said intermediate shell section, a hollow valve and liquid passage assembly extending through said intermediate shell section and supported for axial movement by said diaphragms, liquid nozzle means carried by said movable assembly and opening into said mixing space, said movable assembly carrying a valve element, and a cooperating relatively stationary valve element supported within said shell for engagement by the valve element of the movable assembly upon axial displacement'of the same towards the forward end of said shell, whereby liquid pressure on the rear face of the rear flexible diaphragm tends to close the valve and pressure on the forward face of the forward diaphragm tends to open the Valve.

8. In an atomizer, the invention as recited in claim 7, wherein the effective area of the forward flexible diaphragm is greater than that of the rear diaphragm, whereby said assembly may 10 be moved rearwardly to open the valve by a gaseous medium pressure less than that of the liquid.

AGNEW ,I-I. BAHNSON, JR.

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